Internal tri-lock bicycle locking system

ABSTRACT

A bicycle antitheft device having a bicycle frame comprising a tubing portion, a pair of slidable rods within said tubing portion, one end of one of said rods being adapted to engage the neck of the bicycle fork to prevent the turning thereof, one end of the other of said rods being adapted to engage the sprocket mechanism to prevent the rotation thereof, means within said tubing for biasing said rods so that said ends are not engaged by said neck and sprocket mechanism, a key operated opening external to said tubing and mounted thereon, means for overcoming said means for biasing said rods in operable relation with said key operated opening said means for overcoming causing engagement of said ends of said rods with said neck and sprocket mechanism upon the turning of a key within said key operated opening, an opening in said tubing for receiving a portion of a means for wrapping and retaining the bicycle to a stationary external object, means within said opening in said tubing for engaging said portion of said means for wrapping and retaining, said means for engaging being brought into engagement with said portion by the turning of said key.

United States Patent Stephens, Jr.

[ 1 Nov. 27, 1973 INTERNAL TRI-LOCK BICYCLE LOCKING SYSTEM [76]Inventor: Raymond E. Stephens, Jr., 14840 Sunset Blvd., PacificPalisades, Calif. 90272 22 Filed: July 17, 1972 211 App]. No.: 272,480

[52] US. Cl 70/234, 70/186, 70/236 Primary ExaminerMarvin A. ChampionAssistant Examiner-Richard P. .Tremblay AttorneyFinkelstein & Mueth [5 7ABSTRACT A bicycle antitheft device having a bicycle frame comprising atubing portion, a pair of slidable rods within said tubing portion, oneend of one of said rods being adapted to engage the neck of the bicyclefork to prevent the turning thereof, one end of the other of said rodsbeing adapted to engage the sprocket mechanism to prevent the rotationthereof, means within said tubing for biasing said rods so that saidends are not engaged by said neck and sprocket mechanism, a key operatedopening external to said tubing and mounted thereon, means forovercoming said means for biasing said rods in operable relation withsaid key operated opening said means for overcoming causing engagementof said ends of said rods with said neck and sprocket mechanism upon theturning of a key within said key operated opening, an opening in saidtubing for receiving a portion of a means for wrapping and retaining thebicycle to a stationary external object, means within said opening insaid tubing for engaging said portion of said means for wrapping andretaining, said means for engaging being brought into engagement withsaid portion by the turning of said key.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing [figures INTERNAL TRI-LOCK BICYCLE LOCKING SYSTEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The theft of bicycles isnow a major problem'in this and other countries. Over the years, various antitheft deviceshave been proposed for'use on or in connection with bicycles.

For example, chain devices have been proposed to attach a bicycle to astationary object. Locking devices for the sprocket mechanism and theneck of the fork have also been suggested. U. S. Letters Pat. No.2,055,149 to l-lershbain discloses a lock comprising a pair of racks andgear mechanism suitably encased and communicating with a lock outlet andhaving a bolt extended from one of said racks adapted to engage a rotarymember and a spring boltcarried by the other rack, adapted to engage asteering post, and a lock mechanism stopping said outlet. The presentinvention significantly advances the art by providing a combinationwherein the locking of the sprocket and neck of the fork, and thechaining of the bicycle to a stationary object can be accomplished usingone key operated opening. Thus, a multiplicity of cumbersome operationsis eliminated. Further, the device of this invention increases theprobability that the device will be actually used by the bicycleoperator. It is to be expected that this invention will be widelyadopted in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the inventioncomprises a bicycleanti-theft devicecomprising: t

a. a bicycle frame comprising a tubing portion,

b. a pair of slidable rods within said tubing portion, one end of one ofsaid rods being adapted to engage the neck of the bicycle fork toprevent the turning thereof, one end of the other of said rods beingadapted to engage the sprocket mechanism to prevent the rotationthereof,

c. means within said tubing for biasing said rods so that said ends arenot engaged by said neck and sprocket mechanism,

d. a key operated opening external to said tubing and mounted thereon,means for overcoming said means for biasing said rods in operablerelation with said key operated opening, said means for overcomingcausing engagement of said ends of said rods with said neck and sprocketmechanism upon the turning of a key within said key operated opening,

e. an opening in said tubing for receiving a portion of a means forwrapping and retaining the bicycle to a stationary external object,

f. means within said opening in said tubing for'engaging said portion ofsaid means for wrapping and retaining said means for engaging beingbrought into engagement with said portion by the turning of said key.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel bicycle lockingdevice.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device whichrestrains the bicycle against being carried or driven away.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for preventingthe theft of bicycles wherein a plurality of antikheft functions areaccomplished simultaneously at a single key operated opening.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

Turning to'the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bicycle equipped with the device of thisinvention.

"FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in partial section of the upper bar ortubing of the frame connecting the tubing which carries the seat withthe tubing around the neck of the fork.

FIG. 3 shows in section the tubing running from the area of the sprocketto the neck with the device in the unlocked mode.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of FIG. 3 in the locked mode.

Considering the drawings in greater detail, the bicycle 10 is providedwith upper tubing 12 and angled tubing 14. The sprocket 16 has a shaft18 received in the frame opening 19 in conventional manner. The fork 20has a neck 22. The neck 22 is received in the tubular collar 24. Thechain 26 is normally received in tubing 12 when not in use and isprovided at one end with an engagement portion 28 having the purpose andfunction hereinafter more fully explained. The spring 30 is fixedlyconnected to the interior of tubing 12 at point 32. The chain 26 isconnected to the other end of spring 30 so that the chain 26 can bewithdrawn from tubing 12 by pulling on portion 28, thereby overcomingthe bias of spring 30 tending to retain the chain 26 within tubing 12,stop 34 is a limiting device which prevents the overtensioning of spring30 when it engages block 36.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the tubing 14 isprovided with rods 38, 40, and 42 and biasing springs 44 and 46. Whenthe device is not in use, the springs 44 and 46 keep the rods positionedas shown in FIG. 3. Tubing 14 is also provided with opening 48 which, inuse, is adapted to receive portion 28 of chain 26, the hook-likeprojection 50 on rod 40 is adapted to engage and hold portion 28, asshown in FIG. 4. The key operated opening 52 is rotatable by a key (notshown) to cause the extension of element 54 as shown in FIG. 4 toovercome the bias of springs 44 and 46, and move the rods 38, 40 (andprojection 50) and 42 into the positions shown in FIG. 4. The free ends56 and 58 of rods 38 and 42 are received in openings 60 and 62 in theneck 22 of the fork and sprocket shaft 18, respectively.

It is understood that, with the lock engaged, the rod 38 is springbiased into engagement with neck 22 in the same manner as sprocket l8and rod 58, and hence this engagement need not be further illustrated inthe drawrngs.

In operation, the bicycle is secured simply by withdrawing chain 26 fromtubing 12, wrapping the chain around a stationary external object suchas a post or tree, and then insert portion 28 in opening 48. The keyoperated opening 52 is then rotated causing the engagement of rods 38and 42 and projection 50 with the neck of the fork 22, sprocket shaft 18and portion 28, respectively.

Many variations are possible in my invention. The chain need not becarried in the horizontal tubing a shown. Any convenient tubing may beused for this purpose. The exact type of engagement or interlock of therods with the fork and/or sprocket is subject to many variations whichwill occur to those skilled in the art.

In summary, this invention provides a complete bicycle security systemwhich locks sprocket and steering as well as providing a completelyretractable chain lock for securing the bicycle to a stationary object.All three locks are activated by a half turn of a key and all emponentsbeing built into the frame of the bicycle. Even if the chain is cut andthe bicycle stolen the frame must be cut to remove the locking elements,thus destroying the bicycle. The lock not only prevents th sprocket andsteering from operating but also prevents the removal of the sprocketand steering mechanisms from their housings. In addition, neithersprocket nor steering need be in any particular position when the lockis engaged. Because locking bolts for sprocket, steering and chain arespring loaded, they will activate themselves when rotated. Thecompletely retractable chain lock is built into the frame member of thecycle so it cannot be lost or tampered with. The chain is out of the waybut ready for immediate use.

Having fully described the invention, it is intended that it be limitedonly by the lawful scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bicycle anti-theft device comprising:

a. a bicycle frame comprising a tubing portion,

b. a pair of slidable rods within said tubing portion,

one end of one of said rods being adapted to engage the neck of thebicycle fork to prevent the turning thereof, one end of the other ofsaid rods being adapted to engage the sprocket mechanism to prevent therotation thereof,

c. means within said tubing for biasing said rods so that said ends arenot engaged by said neck and sprocket mechanism,

d. a key operated opening external to said tubing and mounted thereon,means for overcoming said means for biasing said rods in operablerelation with said key operated opening, said means for overcomingcausing engagement of said ends of said rods with said neck and sprocketmechanism upon the turning of a key within said key operated opening,

an opening in said tubing for receiving a portion of a means forwrapping and retaining the bicycle to a stationary external object,

f. means within said opening insaid tubing for engaging said por1ion ofsaid means for wrapping sand retaining said means for engaging beingbrought into engagement with said portion by the turning of said key.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for wrapping and retainingis slidably receivable within a second portion of tubing of the bicycleframe.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for wrapping and retainingis a chain which is held at one end by a spring which normally holds thechain within said second portion of the tubing.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said pair of rods are separated by andin end-to-end alignment with a third rod, said third rod carrying saidmeans within said opening in said tubing for engaging said portion ofsaid means for wrapping and retaining.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for biasing are springs.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the said ends of said rods are receivedin said neck and sprocket mecha- 7. The device of claim 3 wherein thechain is provided with means for limiting the withdrawal of the chainfrom said tubing.

1. A bicycle anti-theft device comprising: a. a bicycle frame comprisinga tubing portion, b. a pair of slidable rods within said tubing portion,one end of one of said rods being adapted to engage the neck of thebicycle fork to prevent the turning thereof, one end of the other ofsaid rods being adapted to engage the sprocket mechanism to prevent therotation thereof, c. means within said tubing for biasing said rods sothat said ends are not engaged by said neck and sprocket mechanism, d. akey operated opening external to said tubing and mounted thereon, meansfor overcoming said means for biasing said rods in operable relationwith said key operated opening, said means for overcoming causingengagement of said ends of said rods with said neck and sprocketmechanism upon the turning of a key within said key operated opening, e.an opening in said tubing for receiving a portion of a means forwrapping and retaining the bicycle to a stationary external object, f.means within said opening in said tubing for en-gaging said portion ofsaid means for wrapping sand retaining said means for engaging beingbrought into engagement with said portion by the turning of said key. 2.The device of claim 1 wherein said means for wrapping and retaining isslidably receivable within a second portion of tubing of the bicycleframe.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for wrapping andretaining is a chain which is held at one end by a spring which normallyholds the chain within said second portion of the tubing.
 4. The deviceof claim 1 wherein said pair of rods are separated by and in end-to-endalignment with a third rod, said third rod carrying said means withinsaid opening in said tubing for engaging said portion of said means forwrapping and retaining.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means forbiasing are springs.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the said ends ofsaid rods are received in said neck and sprocket mechanism.
 7. Thedevice of claim 3 wherein the chain is provided with means for limitingthe withdrawal of the chain from said tubing.